What’s In The Box? Michael Jackson’s ‘Bad, 25th Anniversary Edition’

Need a last minute gift for the music fan in your life? Or do you just need to figure out what to spend that awesome gift card on? We’re here to help, with rundowns of this year’s best box sets from classic artists.

THE DEAL: Who’s Bad (in a good way)? This three-CD/one-DVD box set. Disc one is Bad remastered, disc two features outtakes from the album, demos, unreleased songs and remixes. (Some of the unreleased songs, like abortion tale “Song Groove,” are decidedly controversial and you can understand why he left it off the album.) Disc three is essentially Michael Jackson’s only authorized live album, recorded July 16, 1988 at Wembley Stadium in England. The DVD features the same show, which shows Jackson performing in peak form. That alone makes this box set stand out for MJ fans. Two photo booklets are also included in the box set.

Bad may not be dubbed a classic album as often as Thriller or even Off the Wall, but there’s seemingly little reason for it. From “The Way You Make Me Feel” and “Dirty Diana” to “Smooth Criminal” and “Man in the Mirror,” nearly every track is essential MJ.

THE PRICE: $38

RELEASE DATE: September 2012

ALSO: If that’s not enough for you, consider the Thriller 25 Super Deluxe box set, released in 2008.